Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Aztec Empire, ca. 1400 to 1521 CE. A monumental bust of Cihuateotl - a divine entity that held the spirits of women who died during childbirth. Made from a warm red hued volcanic basalt, this is a hefty piece, weighing about 76 lbs (34.4 kg)! Cihuateotl is shown here as a half skeletal female image wearing a toothy, skeletal or reptilian, buccal mouth; there is the double serpent belt (rattlesnakes) and cotton headpiece, garment, solar or star necklace. Tears flow from her hollow eyes. The "1 deer" calendar glyph, associated with the descending of this particular deity down to earth, is inscribed on the side of the bust and the "Maw of the Underworld" is shown on the bottom back edge of the sculpture in a sideways position with upper and lower sets of teeth surrounding a gear like tongue inside the mouth. Upon the head is an elaborate headdress and earspools and the rear details are almost as incredible as the front, with rows of braided hair and feather ornaments.

Around the neck is a necklace or cape, cinched with double headed rattlesnakes! All losses are old and most likely occurred from the Spanish invasion and Catholic zealousness - these areas show calcite and dendritic deposits and earthen encrustations within these nooks. Size: 11" L x 7" W x 17" H (27.9 cm x 17.8 cm x 43.2 cm) A similar piece was published in a German catalog "Glanz Und Untergang des Alten Mexiko: Die Azteken und ihre Vorlaufer" in 1986. The features of published example are strikingly similar, and it is very probable these two were companions carved by the same artisan. They may have been a pair in a temple, flanking a stairway or entrance or crossroads intersection before being toppled by European invaders. Interestingly, the published example sports a large hole on the face, probably where a Spanish large-bore musket or cannon ball attempted to obliterate it.

Cihuateteo were known as "Divine Women" representing the spirits of women who died in childbirth, singularly known as Cihuateotl. The Cihuateteo descended to the earth on five specific days in the Aztec calendar and one was the Deer, the deer glyph on this carving indicates her time on earth. While haunting the earth, they are thought to inhibit crossroads and places associated with disease in order to snatch children.

Provenance: ex-private Saint Petersburg, Florida, USA collection; ex-private Los Angeles, California, USA collection, from the 1950s

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#170451

A very fine and large piece showing losses mostly affecting the left proper headdress. Losses likely occurred at the hands of Spanish invaders, with earthen deposits within these abraded areas. Good remains of details throughout.